By Mama A. Touray,
Lala Touray, an activist has said that as a country the Gambia can’t achieve change, development, and democracy, in the absence of a strong state institution, and an accountable, transparent, and open governance system that the people can trust.
She made the statement recently at a public forum held at Sir Dawda Kairaba Conference Centre, where she called for a need to build strong, accountable and transparent, open, and inclusive institutions and governance systems.
She urged that there is a need for transformative and change of mental visionary leadership to guide the efficient and effective running of these institutions as these institutions will not operate themselves.
“There is a need to reform leadership and what it takes, is to have a visionary leadership that will run these institutions efficiently and effectively, so they will bring to Gambians the change that is needed, democracy cannot thrive in the absence of strong institutions and visionary leadership, the leader should be selfless, principle and ethical this is what will get us to where we want to get to as a country,” she stated.
Touray added that strong institutions and leadership will work to build a well-developed and self-sufficient country with sectors that can create needed policies and programs that will immensely bring about peace, progress, and prosperity. These three words are of great significance to our beloved country. “We need not build sustainable peace. We need to work collectively to maintain peace.”
She called for the need for inclusion of women and young people in the development of the country.
“We need to provide space for women and young people. Democracy is great but democracy is even stronger when women and young people are given the spaces needed for them to explore their talents, showcase their potentials, add their voices to governance, participate, and be represented,” she noted.
She pointed out that in the political history of the Gambia, women, and young people have been active participants in politics, and governance, and that the last election witnessed a significant number of Gambian women and young people registered to vote and that they voted well as part of the processes.
